Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-06-30
A RaiIWay-J

admit it; do pride myself on be ng a
Judge of character. No, l am not
clever-I never pretend it for a
moment; and detest blue stockings
their clothes never fit like any one
else's, and they are always so dictator
ial and disagreeable. No, l don't pre-
tend to be clever in any way. I'm a
wretched manager, and whatever l
should do without Jnks and his wife l
don't like to think; but character l am
Judge of-an unfailing judge. l
never make mistakes. / can tell you
n mans profession the very moment l
look at him. No. it's not cleverness. l
don pretend it for a moment. 1t is
gift-.the only gift have"
And you never make mistakes, Mrs.
Bob?" some one asked.
.Oh, never. Take my marriage, for
instance; l actually ran away to Bob
and asked him to marry me"
Il beg your pardon, Lily" said Bob;
"you did nothing of the kind-nothing
half so business like"
well, not in words, perhaps, dear"
she adm tied, "but in realty. My in
stincts led me right, too; for ! got the
best husband in the whole world"
Come, draw it mild, Lily Bob ex-
postulated, redden ng little.
Mrs. Bob laughed merrily.
bob can't bear to hear me praise
him." she said in an undertone TO her
neighbor. But it's true. for all that.
He's the very best husband in the
world"
Then he is well matched" returned
the gentleman, gallantly-and he said
it as If he meant it, causing little Mrs.
Bob to flush up with pleasure. though
she was twenty three years old and had
u nursery full CT babies at home.
Well, not many DAYS after this con-
versation took lI"~ 'ob Sabretasche
suggested to his t they should
run to town for l .rys. Bob's will
and pleasure being Mrs Bob's law, she
ordered her boxes to be packed, COM
mcnded her babies to the care of Mrs.
Jnks, and to town they went Town
was full-thG weather was tne-town
was charming, and altogether Bob and
h S wife had what the Americans call
good time of it, so it was with regret
that they took their places in the train
for the North. notwithstanding that the
nursery fUll of babies awaited them at
the end OF the journey, Ike Il bright
galaxy of stars. They were really love-
" babies, all OF them, with their moth
er's big, black, Vclvet-likc eyes set in
Their fathers handsome, regular face.
As soon as they were off Bob settled
down to the Times, aud Mrs Bob after
her wont. proceeded to scrutiu re her
fellow Passengers. As she sat next t.
Bob, who in turn sat next to the door,
facing the engine, she was in an excel
lent position for dong so.
Besides herself and Bob there were
four persons in the carriage: at her
right hand sat an old gentleman-a
very nasty old gentleman, indeed. He
made Mrs. Bob think OF verse she
once read.
"Br the side of a murmuring stream
An elderly gentleman sat;
On the top of his head was his wig,
On the top of his wig was his hat.'
1t was a W 9. crowned by horid and
hideous smokng-cap. He was very fat
so fat that he wobbled like a Jelly
not stiff jelly, by anr means. Mrs. Bob
described him at once, in her own mind,
IS a London alderman. and thought
pity ng'v Of turtle-soup and green fat.
True, she had never seen one of those
dign.tarics in flesh that she knew of,
and the old gentleman was no more an
alderman than !, the writer of this
story; but then, as he was just Mrs
Bob's idea Of one, he therefore became
an instance OF those who have greatness
thrust upon them.
Opposite to him, and to Mrs Boil
herself, were two ladies tall, thin,
severe looking, not to say vinegarish,
of aspect. Mrs. Bob decided thiel
walk in life with as little hes tatiou
and as much accuracy as she had de,
cided that of the gentleman: the,
were school mistrcSscs in swell way
of business, ''princpais of an educa
tional establishment. Oh, how sh,
pitied the poor girls in their charge
l was very much in fear Mrs. Bo
thought "ClutcheS from the bottom
of her kind and gentle heart! As
matter of fact, they are not in the edu
maiden, it is true-and social stars G
great magnitude in their own neigh
bOrhood. However, as Mrs. Bob die
not know that, and probably would no
have admired them any more if sh
had known it, she turned from then
to look at the remaining occupant Q
the carriage. He was much NOR
agreeable to contemplate; his pre-
fession did not need half an eve t
discoyer-a clergyman of the establish
cd church, elderly. gray-haired. BIZ
ncvolent of aspect and very gentle an
kjrd-looEing-"a dear Old darling,
sa.d Mrs Bob within herself
Just as she glanced at him he BEL
slightly towards her, and asked if 81
would mind having the window Ii
tie open.
Not the very least in the world,
she answered graciously. in fact,
Ike it open if it is not very cold weatl
en-"
Very soon they slipped into conve
sation, and Mrs. Bob was charmed /
h m-he was so polite, so courtly.
very pleasant. He offered her Il
Graphic and the Illustrated, which Mr.
Bob accepted and glanced over. Bo
who had thrust those very papers in
his bag half an hour before, grinned
himself under his mustache and
them remain there. Then, the pape
being exhaused, Mrs. Bob and the o
parscn fell back upon conversation. a
i n a Al